Jordan Firstman's 'Club Kid' premieres Cannes

Jordan Firstman premiered “Club Kid” at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, bringing his first feature as director to the festival’s Un Certain Regard lineup. The 126-minute film screened in Cannes on May 15, according to the festival’s official page, and trade coverage followed within hours. Variety described the premiere as the moment that “got the party started,” while Deadline reported a standing ovation after the screening. The film stars Firstman alongside Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva and Reggie Absolom. ### Which Cannes section is “Club Kid” actually playing in? The Cannes Film Festival lists “Club Kid” in its 2026 Official Selection under Un Certain Regard, a section that often includes first features and emerging directors. The festival’s film page identifies Firstman as director and screenwriter and says the movie is a U.S. production from 2025. Festival materials describe the story as following “a washed-up party promoter” whose life changes when “an unexpected visitor arrives.” The same Cannes page lists Topic Studios as the production company and gives the running time as 126 minutes. ### What happened at the premiere on May 15? Variety reported on May 15 that Firstman’s film premiered to strong audience enthusiasm inside the Théâtre Claude Debussy. The outlet said Firstman cried during the ovation, kissed co-star Diego Calva and lifted up a younger co-star as the audience applauded. Deadline reported the same screening received a seven-minute standing ovation. Variety’s account put the ovation at six minutes. Both outlets described an emotional response from Firstman after the debut. ### Who is in the film, and why was it already drawing attention? Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, Reggie Absolom, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Colleen Camp are listed in Cannes credits for the film. Variety reported last month that UTA Independent Film Group and Charades had boarded the project ahead of the festival, giving the title added visibility in the Cannes market. Variety’s April report said the New York-set film came from the producers of “Anora” and “Lurker.” That earlier coverage also framed “Club Kid” as one of the buzzy sales titles heading into Cannes. ### What are reviewers and festival coverage saying so far? The Hollywood Reporter said on May 16 that the film “premiered in the festival’s Un Certain Regard selection” and described it as a story about a party promoter forced to change course by an unexpected arrival. (festival-cannes.com) Deadline’s review called it a father-son comedy and said the premiere played as a crowd-pleaser with the Cannes audience. (variety.com) Variety’s festival report went further, calling “Club Kid” Cannes’ “first breakout hit of 2026.” That description is Variety’s characterization, not a festival designation, but it shows how quickly the film moved from lineup announcement to one of the day’s most discussed premieres. ### Why is this a notable moment for Firstman? Cannes published a profile of Firstman on May 15 ahead of the screening, asking, “Who is Jordan Firstman, the director of Club Kid?” The festival said even before the premiere the film was already being singled out as one of the “cool” titles in the selection. (hollywoodreporter.com) The same Cannes profile noted that “Club Kid” is Firstman’s first feature in the festival’s official selection. (variety.com) Variety’s earlier reporting said he wrote, directed and starred in the project, making the Cannes debut a first major festival test for his work behind the camera. ### What comes next after the Cannes premiere? May 15 marked the film’s first public Cannes screening, but the next phase is likely to play out in the festival market and in additional trade coverage. (festival-cannes.com) UTA Independent Film Group and Charades were already attached before the premiere, according to Variety, positioning the film for sales conversations during Cannes. The Cannes Film Festival runs through May 23, 2026, and the festival’s official pages continue to host “Club Kid” materials including the film page and photocall coverage from May 15. Any distribution announcements or further festival dates would be expected to emerge after the Cannes launch. (festival-cannes.com) (variety.com)